Sovereigns of the Skies~

On By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life

Holler Mockers (click/tap to enlarge)

are way too smart. They saved me from a rattlesnake when I was young.

Cardinals are luscious little beauties.

Lark Sparrow’s,

song makes your heart fly.

While Scrub Jay’s beauty,

is belied by their name.

Egyptian peli-cans,

are effortless comedians.

Cheers to you from your Holler feathered friends~

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270 thoughts on “Sovereigns of the Skies~”

  6. Fantastic shots, Cindy, thank you!
    Adore the lark sparrows song. Thank you for that, too!
    I did laugh at the pelicans. They look like swans with big noses.
    The Jimmy Durante Swans. ❦❦❦

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  15. Cardinals and Blue Jays are favorites here, especially in winter against the snow. How did the Mocker save you from a rattlesnake? Your photos are beautiful, Cindy.

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    1. I was about to trod on a baby rattler without seeing it, when a mocking bird dove down from above and grabbed the snake, picked it up, and dashed it on the ground away from me. It did this repeatedly, until the snake was either senseless or dead, and then it pecked repeatedly at it’s head. I had just gotten off the school bus and this was a lot of excitement for me! 😉

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  18. It’s always fascinating seeing bird I am unfanilar with (all of these). I remember visiting Texas a very long time ago and looking at a bird and thinking “I dont even know what sort of bird that is” – I found it quite unsettling. Fortunately the only new bird I have had to learn the name of in Ireland is the Hooded Crow.

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  25. Pingback: Sovereigns of the Skies~ – charles french words reading and writing

  26. A spectacular photo collection, Cindy. Birds have what we have tried to emulate over the centuries – the ability to fly. Our winged friends have the freedom, grace, and ability to explore the world from a different perspective. As Isaac Asimov once wrote: “Surely no child, and few adults, have ever watched a bird in flight without envy.”

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    1. Yes. I agree Rebecca. We have tried to emulate bird’s looks too, wearing their feathers and trying to steal their beauty. It doesn’t work. Feathers looks best on birds! Take Good care dear friend & Merry Christmas! -` ༘⋆🦌

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    1. Hi Curt! I had just gotten off the school bus when I was little and was about to trod on a baby rattler without seeing it, when a mocking bird dove down in front of me and grabbed the snake, picked it up, and dashed it on the ground away from me. It did this repeatedly, until the snake was either senseless or dead, and then it pecked repeatedly at it’s head. This was a lot of excitement for me at the time! Happiest Holidays to you and yours Curt & thank you for your thoughtfulness *ੈ🎄✩‧₊

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    1. Sie sind herzlich willkommen und ich freue mich, dass es Ihnen gefallen hat. Viele Grüße und frohe Weihnachten! ⭐☃️༶･･ᗰદ૨૨ʏ ᘓમ૨ıડτന੨ડ･･༶☃️⭐

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  34. I really enjoyed these bird photos, Cindy–close-up and clear, featuring beautiful birds. How lucky you are to get northern cardinals at the Holler, and lark sparrows are not all that common either. Loved hearing the song.

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    1. So happy you enjoyed Jet & thank you very much my friend. Hope you have a wonderful holiday & ⭐☃️༶･･ᗰદ૨૨ʏ ᘓમ૨ıડτന੨ડ･･༶☃️⭐

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    1. Yes, birds are amazing creatures. It’s not just canaries in caves that save people! Cheers to you Teagan & ⭐☃️༶･･ᗰદ૨૨ʏ ᘓમ૨ıડτന੨ડ･･༶☃️⭐

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  36. You have such beautiful and bountiful birdlife in your world! I love the Holler Mockers! So pretty and pleasing of colour😊 Of course, the beauty captured by the camera reflects the person behind the lens 😀 A very fine combination!

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    1. You are so very kind. Thank you my friend for your thoughtfulness. I hope you have a wonderful Holiday with lots of cheers and goodwill ⭐☃️༶･･ᗰદ૨૨ʏ ᘓમ૨ıડτന੨ડ･･༶☃️⭐

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  37. As always, Cuz, great pics… Been out of comission for a while with family matters, and then along came COVID !!! Was laid up for almost 2 weeks. Just starting to feel human again.
    The holidays are upon us and it’s our turn to host Christmas again, both Eve and Day. There will be 11 or 12 coming and I’m just not looking forward to the chaos and pandimonium of it all. Hope all is well with you and yours and y’all have a very happy holiday season. xox

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    1. Hi Cuz! Wonderful to hear from you! So sorry to hear about the health and family concerns. Covid really doesn’t play nice. I am glad to hear you are starting to feel better, tough to host Christmas when you are not feeling well. You have my sincere empathy and wishes for a Very ⭐☃️༶･･ᗰદ૨૨ʏ ᘓમ૨ıડτന੨ડ･･༶☃️⭐

      Reply

  42. Wow, beautiful and surreal photos. I enjoyed the birdsong video. That grasshopper was about more than a beak full for the Lady Sparrow. Your charming birds makes me homesick Spring and Summer. 🐦‍⬛🐦🪿🦢

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  45. Cindy, it was announced today that the 2024 Salton Sea Bird Festival is scheduled for January 13. I thought you might be interested. Details from the Imperial Valley Press:

    “The main event will be held at the Salton Sea State Recreation Area at North Shore and side events at Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge with activities scheduled throughout the day from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.”

    “The festival will feature Salton Sea talks, bird walks, bird photography classes, and guided tours. All activities will begin at the sign posted in front of the visitor centers, per the Friends of the Salton Sea State Recreation Area association.”

    Reply

      1. More information including the event schedule can be found at the Sea and Desert Interpretive Association website:

        https://seaanddesert.org/

        Or search Salton Sea Bird Festival at All About Birds website.

        There are different events at both locations so you might want to pre-plan. For example, there is a tour of the closed refuge area at Sonny Bono which sounds interesting.

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          1. My understanding is that there are walking tours and a guided tour by carpool around the sea that stops at select locations. Organizers say that there are 400 species at this time of year.

            If you go, I hope you meet some wonderful people, have the very best time, and share your awesome photos with us.

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      2. Paulette Donnellon serves on the board of the Anza-Borrego Foundation. She took up photography during the pandemic. Her award-winning photos have attracted thousands of followers on her social media accounts.

        https://www.facebook.com/paulette.donnellon/photos

        She was one of the guides at the bird festival, and presented the lecture on burrowing owls.

        The early morning tour group was treated to a sunrise flight of 2,000 Snow Geese at the Sony Bono Reserve.

        The event attracted a lot of Snowbirds — the human kind — who winter in the Southern California desert.

        https://holtvilletribune.com/2024/01/18/salton-sea-is-ground-zero-for-birds-eye-views/

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        1. How wonderful! It is magic when the snow geese take off with you in the center. Wow! We are headed there soon. Hopefully with a bit less human snowbirds! Thank you for the wonderful links დ

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          1. Paulette has captured some jaw dropping images, but your photographs are on par with the best I have seen. You could give lectures or lead tours on these events.

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